At an early hour on Sunday morning the steamer Britannia, of Leith, and the Bear, of Grangemouth, collided off St Abbs Head. The latter vessel was run into amidships and sank in a few minutes, carrying her crew of fourteen men with her. A boat was launched from the Britannia, and two men were picked up. The Britannia, which had a full complement of passengers on board for Newcastle, was seriously damaged. The mate of the ill-fated steamer Bear is Mr Muir, a native of Orkney, who was not, however, on board at the time of the accident, being home on leave of absence. His brother-in-law, Mr John Honrie, of Middlesbro’, captain of the vessel, was drowned, along with other eleven seamen.

Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands – Wednesday 14 January 1891